The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-07-09
HARD LIFE AMONG THE TUBS. :


How Large Families are Supported b.
tho Use Of tho washbonrd.
Take an East Broadway car, fetch Q
compass unto the classic regions of Cherry
street and there may be penetrated the
very heart of washwomantom, where
tenement is bound to tenement by closely
interwovcn lines of fluttering wet liner
and the atmosphere is as redolent OF
warm soapsuds as the pages Of "L'As.
sommoir." There all ranks and CLASSES
of laundresses live, and the stories OF
their lives bear out the claim that there
is rarely reason any hard working. sell
respecting woman should live in squalor
That is what one laundress said who had
seven little children to support and had
been in bed for two months with gastric
fever.
.When I'm on my feet" she declared,
"the children want for nothing and
asks favors from nobody. It's been
pretty hard with me here on my back for
two months now, taken down Thanksgiv-
ing day and never up since, but my sis
ters is good and helps me and my biggest
girl does oll the washing she can and
makes a few dollars. There's no reason
in tho world why hard working woman
shouldn't live quite decent and respecta-
ble on washing-I always did and mean
to agin when I'm well. There's the
children, all like steps, and 'he and my
self. He has been out Of work for nearly
a year and has just this week got a
watchman's place, but when there s big
family like this the woman's got to help.
How many children is there in alp" she
said, turning to the eldest daughter, who
leaned on the foot of the bed and wiped
her wet, red arms on her apron.
The pale, tagged girl went into an alb
struse calculation on her fingers. reckon
ing up an endless number of Tommies
and Susies and Marys, winding up with
the baby, which made seven.
Eyes, sir; sevnn, and me and him q
nine, and we lived quite respectable nll
the year OH $40 the week. How did we
do it? Well, never counted the money,
but spent it as it came and it always came
out even IN the end. For one thing, we
only pays SO a month for this fiat, be-
cause I'm the caretaker of the house and
that counts for the rent. Then the chill
dren get big slice of bread and butter
and cup of coffee for their breakfast,
meat and some potatoes or cabbage for
their dinner and bread and tea again for
supper. They live quite hearty on that
and go to school regular. Me and the
girl and my husband have bit of bacon
at night. The coal is the thing that costs
most; it takes a lot Of it to heat the irons
and often, in bad weather, all the clothes
IN 1,,,I I,;,1 -, Dad
one thing certain, any woman that does
honest work can live quite nice and COM
Portable on washing if she don't drink;
that's the trouble with most of them.'
The sister of the sick woman lived not
far away and was one of the aristocrats
of the profession. She had four rooms
and lived there with n young daughter in
much comfort. They had parlor with
u set of walnut furniture, carpet and fresh
white curtains, with motto of God
Bless Our Home" over tho mantelpicce.
One neat bright room was kept entirely
for laundry and no cooking or sleeping
was done there, rs she only took in the
very finest washing, the owners of which
we're particular that their clothes should
lave no odors. She tool, in washing from
he big. fashionable flats up town, the
clothes being marvels Of dainty luxury,
many of silk and all covered with lace
md embroidery.
II average about S15 or $40 week.
he said, land l ask SO on s3 dozen for
very stitch take III, for they are all fine
md covered with trimming and takes
'Xtra work. Besides, you've got to he
npt,1o, f,a ~ 4
his fine stuff, and 'tisn't every one as
ould do them at all. Ne and my
laughter lives quite comfortable and
lever wants for anything. We've always
s much work as we can do and the ladies'
'ay well and promptly. She can wash
8 well US l can and 10 one ever finds
lue strealss in my clothes and am care
III not to tear the lace or let anything
et nlildcwed, and don't ask any better
'ay of earning my living"
The third washerwonlan visited was of
olored persuasion and lived quite alone.
Husband?' she exclaimed. ''No, /
int got no husband. l done tried three
nd then Iquit; it's as much as can do
0 take care of myself, let lone suppo tin
on,e lazy Niger that aint no count
cepn to carry home the clothes; 1 kin
ire a boy to do it cheaper. aint never
ad no trouble takin care myself washin;
70, indeed; I've got money in the savin's
ank and l makes my good $40 weel,
egular. You see all them po' white
olks on your way up stairs? Well, they
axes in washin too, but they amt got no
omfort about 'em and they's always in
ebt to the groceryman round the corner.
t's drinkin' and laziness what's the
natter with them. Monday 10 o'clock 1
ot a good part of my clothes hangin out
o dry, and every day up to Friday l
washes in the mornin' and irons in the
fternoon, but them women, they don't
10 a single blessed thing all day Monday.
t's late in the afternoon fore they gets
ne soilea clothes here, and then it's
Mrs. Flannigan, dear, come in an have
glass of beer, do;' and then she and
irs. Flanagan sits down and talks all
he time they're drinkin' it, and Mrs.
'lannigan stands treat next day, and so
goes all the week, SO you needn't
vonder to see them poor and dirty and
heir room so nasty wouldn't sit down.
u it. ."-BrOOlilyn Eagle,